How quickly can I get a passport?

by Gary
(Singapore)

Question: How soon can I get my passport after I pay off my child support arrears?

Answer: It can take several weeks after you make arrangement to pay the child support arrears before you can apply for a passport. Once arrangements are made with the state agency to which you owe the child support, the State Child Support Enforcement Agency has to send a report of these arrangements to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS then removes your name from the list of those who are in arrears of child support and sends notice to the Department of State Passport Services. Again, this process can take 3 weeks or more.

Once this process has been completed, you can submit your application for a passport. Routine passport processing in the United States usually takes 3-4 weeks while expedited service takes only 2-3 weeks. Most applications submitted to U.S. embassies or consulates abroad are processed in a couple of weeks.